Are Derby County the worst Premier League team ever?

Sports website Sportingo reports that Derby County became the first Premier League team to be relegated.

It has been ten months since Stephen Pearson's victory at Wembley put Derby County into the Premier League, however the Rams are back where they started.

They have achieved just one win all season and have scored a pitiful 16 goals, which averages out at just one goal for every two games!

The BBC Sports Page describes Derby's time in the league as "A campaign that started dismally and got progressively worse" which ended on Saturday with the quickest relegation in the history of the Premier League.

Sportingo asks the question; Are Derby actually the worst team ever, or at least the worst team ever to play in the top division since the formation of the Premiership/Premier League in 1992?

The facts speak for themselves, the Rams have certainly failed to prove themselves this time round, they have been an embarrasment. Relegation appeared to be a sure thing for Derby after suffering defeats to Liverpool, Spurs and Arsenal in the opening weeks.

Team manager Paul Jewell certainly agrees! The Times Online quoted him in saying:

“We’re a million miles away from being a Premier League team, that is the worst performance I’ve ever seen”.

Sunderland became the worst team in Premier League history two years ago with 15 points from 38 games. Derby look set to shatter that record with points to spare!

Put a new man in charge

If Liverpool want to make their mark in the Premier League, or at all for that matter, then it's time they put a new man in charge.

At least that's what sports news site Sportingo believes, and their wont be too many people who disagree.

Gerald Mclaughlin states that:

Benitez sometimes reminds me of a desperate man on Christmas Eve, attempting to buy all of his presents in a rush and not stopping to think whether his purchases will actually be any good- just look at Andriy Voronin, Jermaine Pennant, Yossi Benayoun and Dirk Kuyt for starters.

Rafa Benitez could certainly do with getting rid of his weaker players this summer, but lets not forget that it was he who put them there!

As Ive said before Benitez's decisions during the Premier League were somewhat 'dodgy' and now with George Gillett claiming his relationship with co-owner Tom Hicks is now "unworkable" i have to ask "What is going on at Anfield?"

Manchester United and Chelsea are looking to be the only two teams in the country who are capable of competing for both major trophies. Liverpool may never fall into that category as long as Benitez is in charge.

Liverpool Split

Footy 24/7 revealed this afternoon that George Gillett, co-owner of Liverpool FC, stated that his relationship with partner Tom Hicks has become "unworkable".

The website's source for this piece of information comes from the BBC Sport page, who reports that Gillett and his family have received threatening phone calls in the middle of the night and that his relationship with Hicks has not been working for quite some time.

Supposedly Hicks aims to take sole control over the team and investment group Dubai International Capital are also interested in investing.

Gillett spoke to Canadian radio station Fan590 and described the decision to sell his share of the club to Hicks as "an untenable alternative".

He said:

"We were very fair. We gave our partner a long period of time to try to make arrangements to buy us out.

"We didn't put pressure on him but he ultimately did not get to the finish line.

"In the meantime, because of the things he said, the fans' reaction has been so negative towards him - and towards us if we sold to him - that has now made that an untenable alternative for us.

"When your public persona is more important than the facts, it's tough to have a rational relationship."

To read the full interview click here

Triple Gold for Britain

Buzzle.com reports that Great Britain has won three gold medals on the opening of the World Track Cycling Championships in Manchester.

The BBC sports page reports that the Individual Pursuit champion, Bradley Wiggins, won gold again as the British quartet beat Denmark in world record time. Former Olympic rowing silver medalist took home a second gold medal for Britain in the individual pursuit. BMX specialist Shanaze Reade and her partner Victoria Pendleton won the third gold medal by defending their sprint title.

Captain Ferdinand

Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has been named England captain for tomorrows game against France.

According to the FA website England manager Capillo has named 29-year-old Ferdinand Captain as part of his rotation technique.

The BBC quoted Ferdinand in saying

"It is a fantastic honour and an achievement in itself.As a kid you grow up wanting to play for England and lead your country out and I've been given that honour of being able to fulfil those dreams."

The Hearld Sun Online states that Capello overlooked John Terry's requests to be restored as captain after Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard was named captain last month match against Switzerland. For which England secured a 2-1 win.

But the Italian has stated that he will not name a long-term captain until just before the start of the 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign, which will begin in September with an away fixture in Andorra.


Click her to watch Ferdinands speach

England V France

We have yet to find out if Michael Owen will win back his starting place for England in the friendly against France.

Owen, who has scored 40 goals for England, was left on the bench for the game against Switzerland and has expressed fears about being dropped from the suad due to Newcastles poor performance in the Premier League.

England coach Fabio Capello was quoted on the BBC website in saying:

"At the moment I'm experimenting and I'm trying to see how I can make the team play and what choices I can make."

Owen, who has scored 40 goals for England, has gained the status of an unused substitute and has expressed fears that he could be dropped from the squad due to Newcastle's poor Premier League form.

According to the Guardian Newspaper United manager Kevin Keegan believes that Michael Owen will soon take back his place on England's first team.

Keegan said:

It wouldn't surprise me if Michael makes an England place his own again. New managers try new things, look at changing things and some big names get sacrificed. But cream always rises to the top and Michael is 28, not 33.